INSTALLATION

Knowing what to expect before, during, and after your wood floor is installed or refinished will help ensure not only your peace of mind, but also the highest possible quality of work. If you choose not to use an approved Warren Christopher professional to do your installation, we strongly recommend that installation be done by a professional flooring contractor familiar with wide plank flooring.

Before: Before work begins, remove all furnishings, draperies, paintings, and other items from the room. For new installations, the wood will need to acclimate, which may vary from two days to two weeks—or even longer depending on the species.

During: If your floors are being sanded, finished or refinished, be prepared for some noise and disruption. Dust containment systems can minimize debris, but no system is 100% effective, so you will wish to cover any items that you want to keep dust-free. When the finish is applied, stay off your floors until it has dried. The time required will vary depending on the type of finish used.

After: After the finish has dried, place felt pads on the bottoms of any furniture to minimize scratches and dents to your flooring. Place rugs or welcome mats at all entrances, avoiding those with rubber backs, which can discolor your floor. And as you might imagine, you’ll want to avoid walking on your floors with cleats or high heels.

Keep in mind that no two floor boards will be identical. Variations in appearance are not only normal, but desirable as they are in keeping with the finest in authentic wood flooring. As your floor ages, some color change can occur. This is also normal, but can be minimized by limiting exposure to direct sunlight, and periodically rotating furniture and rugs. Seasonal humidity changes may cause the wood to expand and contract. Cracks are normal and will appear and disappear between floor boards during seasons of high and low humidity.